The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-27
CLOVER Clue SKETCHES
In Which That =" hestnut" About
Blackburn Figures.

cOilSlefhDie taIk Tor some elmo among the
brilliant men OF New York OF organizing a
club Of the character OF the now lannon's
Clover Club, of Philadelphia. \ number
of cities have already done this; but. 81 far
none of them have attracted attention ont
side OF their own locality Now President
Handy and soDle of the LEADING members of
the Clover Club have just moved to New
York and movement is on foot to eStah
hsh branch OF the Clover Club in this
city,
The club was organized about five years
ago and grew out Of what was then known
as the Thursday Club, principally composed
of Journalists The first dinner was given
one Thursday at the old Grard House.
which was simply sort of an organization,
and ever since then the dinners have been
given at the Bellevue Hotel the third
Thursday in every month. and then there is
one grand annual dinner. At these
monthly dinners each member is allowed to
invite as many guests as he likes. The table
IS set i'll the shape of four-eaf clover. At
the monthly dinners no member is allowed
to appear in full dress, SO that these gather
lngs are as informal as possible.
At these monthly gatherings the majority
OF the guests are from New York. il has
gotten TO he very common thing for New
Workers TO happen in Philadelphia on the
Thursday that these dinners are given, for,
II he is anything of wit, he is sure to be
invited to dine at the Clover Club.
AS much as to anything else, the great
success of this organization is due to its
President, Maj. Moses p. Handy, who is re-
garded by everybody who has attended the
Clover Club dinners as the greatest pre-
siding officer on these festive occasions in
this country. He was the clubs first Presi-
dent, and has been continued in office ever
since, and probably will be for many years
to come.
There is quite general impression that
the Clover Club is great place to hear able
speeches, and that If a man has an grafton
that he wishes to deliver, he can become
famous by delivering it before the Clover
Club This is an entirely mistaken idea; if
there is anything that the members of the
Clover Club dislike, it is a set speech They
would not listen to one even by the Presi-
dent of the United States and Mr. Cleve-
land won their everlasting admiration in
not attempting to deliver one when he was
their guest.
If a person wants to be ingloriouslv
guyed, just let him try and deliver pre-
pared speech. Many an orator of national
reputation has attempted, to his sorrow. to
address the Glover Club in serious man
ner. Still the members of the Glover Club
now and then meet their match in some
witty guest.
rious manner in which President Handy in
PRODUCES the guest is usually sufficient to
make him forget what he might have in
tended to say. And then there are four or
five gentlemen who are noted for their wit
and gift at repartee, and they make it their
business to interject their remarks into a
persons speech that is very embarrassing to
the speaker. Probably the most feared of
these interrupters is Louis n. Magargee and
after him comes William Bum, who was
for time Governor of Idaho; James Hene-
rim, the great criminal lawyer of the Quaker
City, and DR.. Edward Bedloe, whom every
guest at the Clover Club is likely to remem-
Der.
Not long ago Col. Henry Watterson was
guest at the Clover Club. He had heard
of able men like himself who had tried in
vain TO make speech on similar occasions,
and he was determined that he would not
fail just at this time MIR. Watterson was
writing brilliant editorials attacking the
tariff system, and also criticising the admin
istration. He was somewhat taken aback
when President Handy arose and introduced
him to the members of the Clover Club by
saying:
SOD. Henry Watterson will get up and
defend the tariff and the ADMINISTRATION
Col. Watterson was dazed for moment,
and was in the end so guyed that he was
compelled to take his seat.
The next person called upon on this occa
sion for a speech was Col. Thomas P Ochil
tree, the famous Texan. He was greeted
with yells, but he was perfectly calm in the
face of them, and with the experience of
Col. Watterson fresh in his mind When
he could make himself heard he said:
Gentlemen. am cowboy from Texas;
have addressed some of the toughest au-
diences in the country, and you needn't
think you can knock me out"
However continued Col. Ochiltree, 81
am not going 10 attempt to make speech
or tell you a story"
Good, good, and 1--WE won't take your
word for it, )" cried chorus of voices
II simply arose to speak to you ON behalf
of my distinguished friend upon my right,
Senator Blackburn, of Kentucky. ! under
stand he is to-address you next, and | hope
that you will listen to him for you will GER
tainly feel repaid. He is all ready to make
a speech, and hope you will think he makes
a good one. A few years ago was travel
ing with him while he was making can
vass in Kentucky, we heard of place where
there was man to be hung. In Kentucky
the whole country turns out on such an
occasion and my friend Blackburn knew
that it was an excellent opportunity to
make a speech 10 multitude of people So
he went there; but as the day wore along
Blackburn saw no chance to make a speech.
Finally the doomed man was brought on
the scaffold, and the Sheriff said to him:
"'You have fifteen minutes yet TO live,
in which you can address, the people if you
so desire. ~
The man said that he would like to live
as long as possible, but that he was not able
to make speech. Ny friend Blackburn
saw his opportunity, and jumping up, cried
to the doomed man:
N'Give me your time"
''The doomed man quietly turned to the
Sheriff and said:
"'Mr Sheriff, proceed with the hanging;
! had rather die than live and hear Joe
Blackburn make a speech.'n
Ever after this Colonel Ochiltree has been
given close attention whenever he arose tc
address them.
Upon his retirement from the Attorney
Generalship of the United States, Wayne
McVeagh was made member of the Clover
Club, and at the first dinner which he at
tended, President Handy introduced him as
follows:
Gentlemen, have the pleasure of intro
ducing to you Wayne McVeagh, who is n
rising young lawyer; you will probably
hear from him.
Mr. McVeagh naturally expected TO be in
trodueed as the ex-Attorney General of the
United States, and TO say something in
keeping with the dignity of his late office,
hut the roars of laughter that greeted him
proved exceedingly embarrassing. He fin
a1lE ntanerad IN ma Ia "A gpaoph in which he